I understand the frustration with the delays to the commission, partly due to the Covid-19 crisis. These frustrations have been discussed previously with the former Minister, Deputy McEntee, and me. The commission has undertaken considerable preparatory work and is endeavouring to advance its work in areas where separate criminal proceedings will not be jeopardised. The Deputy will be aware that the terms of reference were drafted with the probability of further criminal trials in mind and an awareness that this wa…

The roll-out of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It is a priority of mine to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in their valued contributions to their local CCTV schemes while ensuring sufficient, proportionate oversight of statutory data protection considerations. Since 2017, the Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their a…

On the matter of funding being provided to Carlow, since the establishment of the grant aid scheme in 2017, the Department has provided funding to one community CCTV scheme in County Carlow, namely, the scheme at St. Mullin's. The Deputy's question was in relation to additional Garda CCTV cameras being provided in Carlow. I understand there are currently 14 CCTV cameras in Carlow town centre and three cameras situated in the town park as part of the Garda CCTV system. It is important to note this is a Garda CCTV sy…

I thank the Deputy. As I said, these are matters for the Garda Commissioner as they are operational matters. To update the Deputy, as of 31 May 2021 there were 337 gardaí assigned to the Kilkenny-Carlow division. This represents an increase of almost 19% since December 2015, when there were 284 Garda staff members assigned to the division. A detailed breakdown of the Garda workforce is available on the Department's website. As the Deputy will know, An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.…

I am aware of the annual report of the Mental Health Commission and the use of section 12 of the Mental Health Act by An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will understand, the proportion of applications for involuntary detention reflects the unfortunate reality that gardaí often encounter persons with severe mental health issues and will be called upon by members of the public, or indeed family members, where a person is experiencing high levels of distress. Very often, members of An Garda Síochána are the first availa…

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. As part of the programme for Government commitments, we have established a high-level task force on the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system. This is a key goal within the justice plan 2021. As Deputies know, the task force is chaired by Ms Kathleen Lynch, a former Minister of State with responsibility for primary care, mental health and disability. It met on 28 April, 19 May and 25 June. The membership …

Work is ongoing on early intervention and the multidisciplinary approach. As I said, the pilot crisis intervention team is being developed in a Limerick Garda station, along with the high-level task force to which I alluded. Gardaí are provided with training throughout their career in dealing with people who have mental health issues. All trainee gardaí are trained over two days in an internationally recognised applied suicide intervention skills training, ASIST. It is a workshop delivered in collaboration with the…

It is a good shift. I thank the Deputies for introducing this Bill and their contributions this evening. Organised crime has destroyed lives and undermined communities all over Ireland. It affects every community but those that are already disadvantaged have borne the brunt of the harm. It is absolutely right, therefore, that we recognise and seek to alleviate that harm through increased investment into those communities. I welcome and look forward to the debate this evening. The Garda and the Criminal Assets Burea…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I welcome the debate and the opportunity to discuss these issues. Targeting the money is central to fighting organised crime. Those who mastermind crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and fraud depend on hiding and converting the proceeds of those crimes. By pursuing the proceeds, we can bring those responsible to justice and meaningfully reduce the incentive to commit the crimes in the first place. We can also use the proceeds to help with the damage that…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions and for the opportunity to address this motion today. I know Deputies raised the important matter of the post office network in October last year and the motion before us today recognises the views of the Members who participated in that debate. I noted at the time I was in agreement with many of the sentiments expressed by Deputies and the Government does not intend to oppose today's motion from the Regional Group. The Government's programme is clear, and a modernised p…

I welcome the statement from the Taoiseach and the shared level of concern demonstrated by Deputies. I also welcome the opportunity to hear their views on how we ensure the best outcomes for victims of domestic abuse and violence. No person or family should have to endure these experiences. My Department is fully committed to combating this type of violence. Along with the Minister for Justice, Deputy Humphreys, one of my key focus areas is the continued implementation of Supporting a Victim's Journey. We are worki…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions over the course of the debate of this Bill and for the constructive engagement by the House to progress this matter as quickly as possible. The measures in this Bill provide that a licensee may sell alcohol to persons in an outdoor seating area not within their licensed premises and provide for an increase in the number of judges in the High Court, which has become acutely urgent in the circumstances of Covid-19. This is important legislation at a sensitive time, intende…

I will not accept the amendment. The proposed amendment removes paragraph (d) of the definition of a "specified person" to exclude, in the context of an outdoor seating area, any other person for the time being in charge of a premises. With regard to a relevant premises, a specified person means a licensee, occupier, manager or another person in charge of the premises at the time. This is important as these persons may all be given a direction by a member of An Garda Síochána where that member suspects with reasona…

To respond first to Deputy McNamara, his interpretation is not correct. An outdoor seating area is clearly defined as an area "abutting the premises". That is the area we are talking about here. Regarding the number of seated patrons, which was raised by Deputies Howlin and Mattie McGrath, the number of seated patrons who can be accommodated in the area must not exceed the number of patrons who may be accommodated in the licensed premises. In addition, the area which should contain sufficient seating to accommodate…

The sale or supply of intoxicating liquor by the licensee in the outdoor seating area should not be the primary purpose of the business. Basically, they will be able to serve alcohol there but it will not work like an off-licence. It is for the patrons on site. What this is doing is-----

Yes, but it is only-----

The purpose here is to serve alcohol for patrons who are seated outside the licensed premises.

Yes, that is my understanding-----

It is for serving customers who are on the licensed premises. The purpose of the Bill is that they can be served alcohol within the licensed area outside and adjoining the premises. That is what this Bill covers, namely, the serving of alcohol to customers of the establishment in an outdoor area of that establishment.

The important word is "serving". It is not an off-licence.